New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report 2024 (March 2025)
Summary
This March 2025 New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024 comes from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), which the enabling legislation tasks with administering and monitoring the Workforce Credential Grant (WCG) program. It states that institutions enrolled 15,753 program participants in FY 2024, a 17% increase from FY 2023, that 14,864, or 94%, completed training, and that among program completers 10,887, or 69%, reported earning a credential. It also states that Commercial Driver's License (CDL) programs had the highest number of enrollments, representing 19% of all WCG participants, and that median annual wages for program participants increased $10,551, or 50%, in the 12 months following program completion.
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State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
New Economy Workforce
Credential Grant
Annual Report 2024
March 2025
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table of Contents
Background .............................................................................................................................. 1
Summary of Findings for FY 2024 ......................................................................................... 1
Program Purpose ...................................................................................................................... 2
High-demand Field and Training Alignment Process........................................................ 2
Training Programs Offered by Eligible Institutions............................................................ 3
Program Requirements and Pay-for-Performance Model ................................................. 4
History of Funding ................................................................................................................... 5
Enrollment, Training and Credential Completions and Costs ............................................... 7
Training Offered in High-Demand Occupational Fields ................................................... 7
Top Training Programs and Alignment to Annual Job Openings .................................... 9
Training Completion Rates Averaged 94%, while Credential Completion Rates
Averaged 69% ......................................................................................................................... 10
Participation and Completion Rates by Institution ........................................................... 11
Student Demographics .......................................................................................................... 13
Enrollment ............................................................................................................................... 13
Success ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Earnings Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 15
Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 15
Earnings Analysis ................................................................................................................... 15
Median Wages Increased in all Occupational Fields ........................................................ 16
Wages by Race and Ethnicity ............................................................................................... 17
Additional Observations and Next Steps .............................................................................. 18
Program Cap ........................................................................................................................... 18
Reimbursement Limit Raised to $4,000 Per Credential .................................................... 18
Monitoring Legislation in Congress .................................................................................... 19
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 20
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
BACKGROUND
A product of the 2016 Session of the General Assembly, the New Economy Workforce
Credential Grant (WCG) Program represents the nation’s first pay-for-performance model for
funding noncredit workforce training that leads to a credential in a high-demand field. Using
a two-pronged approach, the WCG works to increase program completion and credential
attainment by incentivizing both the provision of noncredit programs in certain institutions
of higher education (IHEs) and enrollment by Virginia residents.
The enabling legislation tasks the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
with administering and monitoring the WCG, as well as reporting on annual progress to the
General Assembly and the Virginia Workforce Development Board (VWDB, or the Board).
The following report provides a review of enrollments, completions, costs, and outcomes
across the Commonwealth over the past fiscal year, from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
Summary of Findings for FY 2024
Over the course of the fiscal year (FY 2024), 23 institutions offered WCG training aligned to
12 high-demand occupational fields as identified by the VWDB. Observations from FY 2024
include:
o Collectively, institutions enrolled 15,753 program participants in FY 2024, a 17%
increase from FY 2023 and the most since the program’s inception.
o Of these participants, 14,864, or 94% completed training. Among program
completers, 10,887, or 69% reported earning a credential. Compared with FY2023,
rates of both completion and credential attainment dipped slightly, by 0.6% and
1.6% respectively.
o All racial and ethnic groups share high program completion rates, but gaps exist in
credential completion: 63% of Hispanic enrollees earned their credential, 6 points
below the program average of 69%. Whereas the credentialing rate among all Black
or African American students was 10 percentage points below the average at 59%.
o Across programs, students paid an average of $882 under WCG, with an average
price per credential to the state of $1,968.
o Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) programs continued to see the highest number
of enrollments, with students representing 19% of all WCG participants for FY
2024. Medical Assistant programs had the second highest enrollment rates,
accounting for 5% of all enrollments in FY 2024.
o Since WCG launched in 2017, median annual wages for program participants have
by increased $10,551, or 50%, in the 12 months following program completion.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
o Two-thirds of FY 2024 enrollments were by first-time postsecondary students. The
median age among participants was 32 years old.
Program Purpose
As outlined by in Chapter 6, Article 4.1 of Title 23.1 in the Code of Virginia, the WCG program
serves three primary aims:
(i) creating and sustaining a demand-driven supply of credentialed workers for
high-demand occupations in the Commonwealth by addressing and closing the
gap between the skills needed by workers in the Commonwealth and the skills
of the available workforce in the Commonwealth;
(ii) expanding the affordability of workforce training and credentialing; and
(iii) increasing the interest of current and future Virginia workers in technician,
technologist, and trade-level positions to fill the available and emerging jobs in
the Commonwealth that require less than a bachelor's degree but more than a
high school diploma.
The Code’s description of the program also defines two key elements:
• High-demand field: A “discipline or field in which there is a shortage of skilled workers to
fill current job vacancies or anticipated additional job openings.”
• Noncredit workforce credential: A “competency-based, industry-recognized, portable, and
third-party-validated certification or occupational license in a high-demand field.”
The Code of Virginia tasks the VWDB with identifying high-demand occupational fields with
occupations that require training and/or credentials not associated with a credit-bearing
program of study. Participating institutions develop and offer noncredit training programs to
prepare students for credential attainment, with approval from their respective governing
boards, and submit enrollment and completion data for reimbursement. SCHEV provides
overall WCG program administration, including program assessment, data collection from
institutions, funding distribution, and managing any disputes between students and
institutions.
High-demand Field and Training Alignment Process
Identification of High-Demand Fields
The Code of Virginia assigns responsibility for identifying high-demand occupational fields to
the VWDB, a body established in 2014 in response to the passage of the federal Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Comprised of representatives of state government,
postsecondary institutions, and the business and labor communities, the Board oversees the
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Virginia Workforce System and publishes biennial updates to the Commonwealth’s High-
Demand Occupations List, with support from the Virginia Office of Educational Economics
(VOEE). While its methodology has evolved over time, the Board issued its most recent list in
2024 based on the following criteria:
o Annual Earnings: Occupations for consideration must pay at least $29,160 per year,
or 200% of the federal poverty level for a single adult.
o The degree to which the occupations required advanced skills, as measured by
entry-level education.
o Average Annual Statewide Job Openings: Occupations must have an average of at
least 100 openings.
o Projected Five-Year Occupational Growth: Fields must have a minimum projected
market growth of 1%.
o Available Apprenticeships: The list also includes formally registered
apprenticeable positions through the Department of Workforce Development and
Advancement (DWDA), with a demonstrated history of registering apprentices.
The Board also gathered input from stakeholders including representatives in state
administration, IHEs, and directors of local Workforce Development Boards. A complete list
of training programs offered is provided on the Virginia Career Works website. Based on a
review of occupations meeting the criteria above, the VWDB currently identifies high-
demand fields, labeled to align with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Standard
Occupational Classification (SOC) system with occupations requiring a noncredit workforce
credential.
Training Programs Offered by Eligible Institutions
Once the Virginia Board for Workforce Development identifies the relevant high-demand
fields, eligible institutions develop new or align existing noncredit training programs to meet
credential criteria, with final approval from their boards. The Code of Virginia spells out
eligible institutions for participation in WCG, including comprehensive community colleges
within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), Richard Bland College, and the
state’s higher education centers. In FY 2024, 23 eligible institutions provided noncredit
training aligned with high-demand fields, the complete list of which is included in Table 8.
The boards of the institutions submit their approved lists to the VWDB. If an institution’s
board identifies a program that would support a workforce need specific to their local region,
they may petition the VWDB for a special exception for that program.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table 1 provides, by occupational field, a sample list of the types of training and credentials
students may attain upon completion.
Table 1: Sample Workforce Training and Certifications Offered by Occupational Field
Occupational Field
(Occupation Number) Sample Workforce Training/Certification Offered
Business &
Lean Practitioner Certification, Six Sigma Certification, Logistics
Financial
Operations (13) Associate/Technician, SHRM/Senior Professional in Human Resources
Computer and CompTIA A+, Network+ and Server+
Mathematical (15) Computer Entry Level (CISCO Networking Technician and Associate, CompTIA
IT Fundamentals); Information Systems Security Project Management
Architecture &
Engineering (17) Robotics & Mechatronics Systems Certifications
Construction and Construction (Project Management, Carpentry, Contractor's License),
Extraction (47) Highway Construction, Solar Installation
Education, Training and
Career Switcher/Teaching License
Library (25)
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Advanced/Emergency Medical
Healthcare Practitioners
Technician, Paramedic, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pharmacy Technician,
and Technical (29)
EKG Technician, Mammography Certification, Billing & Coding Specialist
Certified Nurse Aide, Medical Assistant, Medication Aide, Phlebotomy
Healthcare Support (31)
Technician, Sterile Processing Technician, Licensed Massage Therapist
Installation, Maintenance Electrical and Electrical Systems, Engine Repair, Hydraulics, HVAC,
and Repair (49) Plumbing, Power Line Worker, Fiberoptic Installation
Office and Administrative
Medical Administrative Assistant, Emergency Telecommunicator
Support (43)
Backflow Prevention, Machine Tool Operations, Manufacturing Technician,
Production (51) Manufacturing Entry Level (specialist and production technician), Marine Trade
Training, Millwright, Welding (flux, gas and general)
Sales & Related Customer Service & Sales Certification, Advanced Customer Service & Sales
Occupations (41) Certification
Transportation and Commercial Driver's License, Remote Pilot Airman Certification, Heavy
Material Moving (53) Equipment Operations, Tower Crane Operator
Program Requirements and Pay-for-Performance Model
WCG uses a two-pronged a pay-for-performance model that incentivizes both (a) the
development and offering of noncredit workforce training programs aligned with high-
demand fields, as outlined above, and (b) program enrollment and completion. Under this
model, participating eligible institutions offer enrollees a grant for two-thirds of program
tuition, contingent on completion of the program. The Commonwealth then reimburses
participating institutions for up to two-thirds of the total cost of program tuition (capped at
$4,000), but only after enrolled students meet certain benchmarks. The following table
summarizes each payment scenario under WCG.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table 2: Program Pay-for-Performance Model
Payment Scenario if a student… Student Pays ... State Pays Training Institution...*
… Completed training and credential 1/3 program cost 2/3 program cost*
… Completed training but did not earn
1/3 program cost 1/3 program cost*
or report credential to the training institution
… Did not complete training and did not earn
2/3 program cost No cost
or report a credential
*Maximum contribution from the state is $4,000.
WCG’s funding structure does not preclude participating students from using third-party
funds, such as noncredit financial aid, training vouchers or employer payment, to cover their
share of program costs. No student enrolled in WCG is required to pay the full cost of
participation, even if they fail to complete the program.
To receive state reimbursement, each participating institution must provide student-level
data indicating program completion and, later, receipt of the corresponding credential.
History of Funding
Annual appropriations for the Workforce Credential Grant have increased six times since its
inception, reflecting progressive increases in program participation and demand. Chapter 1
of 2023, Special Session 1 of the General Assembly includes $18.5 million from the general
fund (GF) for WCG for FY 2024, representing the programs largest single-year increase to date.
Table 3: Historical GF Appropriations to WCG
Fiscal Year Amount
2017 $5.0 million
2018 $7.5 million
2019 $9.5 million
2020 $13.5 million
2021 $13.5 million
2022 $13.5 million
2023 $13.5 million
2024 $18.5 million
2025 $22.5 million*
2026 $23.8 million*
*Appropriations for FY 2025 and FY 2026 are subject to change, pending enactment of state budget legislation in 2025 and 2026.
The Workforce Credential Grant Fund is non-reverting, i.e., any unexpended funds from one
fiscal year may roll into the next fiscal year to cover any expenses above the direct
appropriation. Earlier in the program’s history, appropriations exceeded performance
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
payments, particularly during fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Beginning in FY 2022, annual
performance payments began to exceed annual appropriations, necessitating reliance on the
accumulated balance leftover from previous years.
In FY 2024, the fund expended $20.9 million in performance payments. Even with the
increased appropriation of $18.5 million and the carryforward from previous years,
performance funding exceeded the available funds by $587,258. Even with increases factored
into current appropriation levels for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, trends in WCG enrollment
rates suggest the program will continue to outperform earlier projections.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
ENROLLMENT, TRAINING AND CREDENTIAL COMPLETIONS AND COSTS
Statewide, a total of 15,753 individuals enrolled in training programs, of whom 14,864 (94%)
completed training. Of students who initially enrolled in WCG programs, 10,887 (69%) went
on to earn the corresponding credential. FY 2024 data are based on training courses that
ended between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Institutions have up to 180 days after the
completion of training to obtain verification that a student earned a credential. Training
institutions may verify this information through either receiving information from a student
or a record match with the entity issuing the credential.
Since its inception, the WCG has recorded 75,152 enrollments, 70,484 completions and 53,854
credentials or licenses. FY 2024 saw a record number of students enrolling; completing the
program; and earning their credential or license. The growth of the program is particularly
notable given that, in recent years, enrollments in for-credit academic programs offered by
many of the same institutions have declined.
Table 4: Workforce Credential Grant Enrollments, Program
Completions, and Credentials, History of the Program
Fiscal Year Enrollments Completed Training Earned Credential
2017 5,206 4,958 3,487
2018 4,311 4,000 3,094
2019 6,983 6,570 5,098
2020 7,485 7,032 5,461
2021 9,616 8,705 6,642
2022 12,323 11,496 9,031
2023 13,428 12,749 9,539
2024 15,753 14,864 10,887
Grand Total 75,152 70,484 53,854
Training Offered in High-Demand Occupational Fields
For FY 2024, training programs supporting occupations in transportation, healthcare support,
construction, and production saw the highest numbers of enrollments; these fields accounted
for three-quarters of program participation. Table 5 summarizes enrollments, completions,
reported credentials, average cost to students, total payments by the state and average costs
to the state per credential attained, by occupational field.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table 5: FY 2024 Data on Enrollment, Training Completion and Reported Credentials by
Occupational Field
Average State
Reported a Average Total State Payments Payments per
Completed Credential Cost to for Training and Credential
Occupational Field Enrolled Training Attained Student Credential Completion Attained
Production &
$822 $2,064,021 $1,503
Manufacturing (51) 1,731 1,662 1,373
Transportation &
Material Moving $1,566 $9,349,548 $3,055
3,590 3,483 3,060
(53)
Healthcare Support
$934 $3,454,503 $2,233
(31) 2,572 2,278 1,547
Business & Financial
$663 $381,170 $1,757
Operations (13) 420 411 217
Computer &
$696 $1,299,532 $2,994
Mathematical (15) 1,638 1,529 434
Healthcare
Practitioners & $939 $936,839 $2,498
781 666 375
Technical (29)
Office and
Administrative $646 $115,138 $1,476
125 108 78
Support (43)
Construction &
$244 $1,232,061 $533
Extraction (47) 3,032 2,947 2,312
Architecture &
$624 $26,470 $1,260
Engineering (17) 24 22 21
Installation,
Maintenance, & $790 $2,403,323 $1,723
1,760 1,682 1,395
Repair (29)
Education, Training,
& Library (25) 61 57 57 $1,330 $151,620 $2,660
Sales & Related
Occupations (43) 19 19 18 $276 $10,200 $567
All 15,753 14,864 10,887 $882 $21,424,425 $1,968
The Average Cost to Each Student was $882. The Average Per-Credential Cost to
the State was $1,968.
As shown in Table 5, the average cost of the program to a student (reflecting one-third of the
cost) was $882. SCHEV provided $20.9 million in reimbursements to institutions for training
completions and credentials. This figure is higher than the general fund appropriation for FY
2024 of $18.5 million. Funds were exhausted because the program doubled its previous year’s
growth rate and expanded by 17% compared to the previous year’s 9% growth.
The pay-for-performance model obligates funds when a student enrolls, but funds are paid
when an institution applies for reimbursement upon student completion of training and
credential attainment. Notably, some students who completed their program in FY 2023 went
on to earn a credential in FY 2024.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Based on the attainment data and the total payments through state general fund, the average
state payment per credential attained in FY 2024 was $1,968. This calculation accounts for
performance payments for students who completed the training but not the credential.
Top Training Programs and Alignment to Annual Job Openings
With WCG courses offered across more than 50 program clusters, four program clusters -
Commercial Drivers’ License, Medical Assistant, Construction Core Skills, and Phlebotomy
Technicians – accounting for over half of all enrollments.
This analysis de-duplicates individual records, such that no single student pursuing multiple
credentials is counted more than once, as that individual would fill only a single job opening.
In comparing enrollments in these programs to the annual job openings provided by the
Virginia Employment Commission (VEC), the certifications offered through WCG appear to
meet annual need. For example, the VEC currently anticipates roughly 4,886 annual openings
for truck drivers. In FY 2024, 2,998 individuals enrolled in credential programs to attain a
Commercial Driver’s License. Similarly, where the VEC assumes 2,440 annual openings
statewide for medical assistants statewide, 812 students enrolled in Medical Assistant
programs through WCG in FY2024.
The difference between the annual openings and enrollments does not necessarily indicate a
shortage, as training programs offered by private providers are not eligible for WCG and
thus are not included in this analysis. It is also important to note that not all employers
require attainment of a credential if applicants can otherwise demonstrate having completed
training. Likewise, not all students who complete ultimately may not pursue the exact
occupation aligned with their program.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table 6: Top 10 Credentials and Annual Openings by Related Occupational Field,
FY 2024
Annual Job Individuals
Openings Enrolled FY
Occupation by Field* Program 2024**
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 4,866 Commercial Driver's License 2,998
Medical Assistants 2,440 Medical Assistant 812
Carpenters 2,063 Core - Introductory Craft 707
Skills
Phlebotomists 471 Phlebotomy Technician 697
Healthcare Support Occupations 26,446 Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) 494
Computer and Information Systems 1,207 CompTIA A+ 440
Managers
Health Technologists & Technicians, 286 Billing & Coding Specialist 329
Other
Highway Maintenance Workers 430 VDOT Asphalt Field 311
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 1,162 Shielded Metal Arc Welding 229
(SMAW)
Health Technologists & Technicians 7,065 EKG Technician 172
*Review based on Virignia Office of Education Economics and Virginia Employment Commission short-term 2021-2024 projections.
https://virginiaworks.com/occupational-
projections?page80257=1&size80257=12&page79862=1&size79862=12&page81630=1&size81630=12
**Enrollments figures can include individuals completing multiple credentials. The figures provided for individuals represent
unduplicated count of the enrollments.
Differences between openings (demand) and enrollments (supply) may not represent a shortage as other individuals may complete
certification through non-WCG programs.
Training Completion Rates Averaged 94%, while Credential Completion Rates
Averaged 69%
Completion rates for training vary by field and credential type. Nonetheless, the average
completion rate for the last four years remains relatively stable – about 94% of enrolled
individuals complete their training. Of those who enrolled, about 69% earn a credential.
Some credential rates, such as IT certification, are much lower. Rates may vary because some
credentialing and licensing bodies offer testing on-site, while others are located elsewhere.
Also, a gap of time may exist between the course end-date and availability of credentialing
testing. Further, some students might be able to start employment related to their training
without earning a credential.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table 7: Average Completion Rates, FY 2024
Training Completion Credential Completion
Occupational Field Rate Rate
Architecture & Engineering (17) 92% 88%
Business & Financial Operations (13) 98% 52%
Computer & Mathematical (15) 93% 26%
Construction & Extraction (47) 97% 76%
Education, Training, & Library (25) 93% 93%
Healthcare Practitioners & Technical (29) 85% 48%
Healthcare Support (31) 89% 60%
Installation, Maintenance, & Repair (49) 96% 79%
Office & Administrative Support (43) 86% 62%
Production & Manufacturing (51) 96% 79%
Sales & Related Occupations (41) 100% 95%
Transportation and Material Moving (53) 97% 85%
Average Rate 94% 69%
Participation and Completion Rates by Institution
Half of enrollments in FY 2024 were at institutions in rural areas of the state. The remaining
enrollments occurred at urban community colleges: Germanna, Northern Virginia, Tidewater
and Brightpoint/Reynolds.1 Table 8 outlines enrollments and completions by institutions.
1Brightpoint and Reynolds Community Colleges share a workforce development division called the
Community College Workforce Alliance.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table 8: FY 2024 Data on Enrollment, Training Completion and Reported Credentials by
Eligible Training Institution
Credential
Training Institution Enrolled Completed Training Attained
Blue Ridge CC 571 527 416
Brightpoint/Reynolds CC (CCWA) 2,293 2,155 1,495
Central Virginia CC 680 629 507
Danville CC 165 154 49
Eastern Shore CC 254 248 66
Germanna CC 2,981 2,918 2,147
Laurel Ridge CC 1,159 1,073 932
Mountain Empire CC 221 219 208
Mountain Gateway CC 328 307 193
New River CC 200 188 130
Northern Virginia CC 1,178 1,117 620
Patrick & Henry CC 420 376 325
Paul D. Camp CC 505 453 313
Piedmont CC 514 477 358
Rappahannock CC 320 318 202
Southern Virginia Higher Ed Center 85 72 51
Southside Virginia CC 637 606 511
Southwest Virginia CC 431 428 385
Tidewater CC 894 818 478
Virginia Highlands CC 165 148 141
Virginia Peninsula CC 954 874 653
Virginia Western CC 566 531 492
Wytheville CC 232 228 215
Grand Total 15,753 14,864 10,887
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
Enrollment
The Workforce Credential Grant program tends to attract a nontraditional (adult) students;
the median age of participation is 32 years. Sixty-six percent of all WCG participants are over
the age of 24.
Table 9: Enrollment by Age, FY 2024
Age Group # %
Less than 18 years 217 2%
18 to 24 years 4,056 32%
Age 25 to 34 years 3,818 28%
Age 35 to 44 years 2,772 20%
Age 45 to 64 years 2,423 17%
Age 65 years and older 142 1%
Total 15,753 100%
By gender, 62% of enrolled students were male and 32% female; 5% did not indicate their
gender in program enrollment paperwork. By race and ethnicity, 44% of WCG enrollment
identified as White; 31% identified as Black or African American; and 7% identified as
Hispanic/Latino.
Figures 1a, 1b: Student Demographics by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, FY 2024
Figure 1a: Figure 1b:
WCG also a high percentage of participants who are first-time postsecondary. Two-thirds
(10,308) of WCG enrollees in FY 2024 had not previously entered a postsecondary training or
credential program.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Success
Credential completion varies by race and ethnicity (training completion rates do not vary
significantly for the largest demographic groups.) Asian students earn a credential at a rate
five percentage points below the program average, while Black or African American students
report a credential attainment rate 10 points below average. However, the accuracy of this
data is limited by the prevalence of unreported racial and ethnic information in the
enrollment process as well as program choice.
Table 10: Training Completion and Credentials by Race and Ethnicity, FY 2024
Training Credential % Complete % Complete
Race/Ethnicity Enrollment
Completion Completion Training Credential
American Indian or Alaska Native 72 67 52 93% 72%
Asian 510 491 328 96% 64%
Black or African American 4,869 4,460 2,873 92% 59%
Hispanic 1,126 1,060 712 94% 63%
Multi-Race 402 368 253 92% 63%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 34 34 27 100% 79%
Race Unknown/Unreported 1,869 1,769 1,383 95% 74%
White 6,871 6,615 5,259 96% 77%
Total 15,753 14,864 10,887 94% 69%
Male students record a higher overall success rate than female, with a 96% training
completion rate and a 75% credential completion rate. As with other completion and
attainment rates disaggregated by student demographics, these tabulations could be
impacted by various factors.
Table 11: Training Completion and Credentials by Gender, FY 2024
Training Credential % Complete % Complete
Gender Enrollment
Completion Completion Training Credential
Male 9,820 9,463 7,365 96% 75%
Female 5,109 4,614 2,880 90% 56%
Unknown 824 787 642 96% 78%
Total 15,753 14,864 10,887 94% 69%
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
EARNINGS OUTCOMES
Methodology
Since WCG launched in Fiscal Year 2017, alignment of training to unmet needs for employees
in high-demand fields has remained a key priority. The Code of Virginia also requires SCHEV
to report “information on the wages, including average wage and other relevant information,
of students who have completed noncredit workforce training programs by credential name
and relevant industry sectors.” To better evaluate the impact of the program on an
individual’s job prospects, it is important to compare participants’ wages both before and
after program completion.
Through the Virginia Longitudinal Data System, SCHEV staff matched completers’ wages
with the wage records of the Virginia Employment Commission. While VEC records are a
valuable and unique source of post-program wages, they are imperfect. For example, some
people are exempt from reporting, including individuals who are self-employed, work for
the federal government and those who meet other exemption qualifications. The VEC collects
wage data on a quarterly basis, without any indication of the hours worked, or analysis by
full time vs part time employment. The length of time required to collect and match
individuals’ VEC and WCG records from also means that wage data is less recent than WCG
enrollment data.
To accurately assess programs’ impact on wages, SCHEV staff compared only those students
who had at least four quarters of wages before and four quarters of wage records after
completing the program. SCHEV staff summed those four quarters to serve as a proxy for
annual income, even though those individuals might be earning additional income not
counted in that quarterly wage or choosing to work part-time.
Given these limitations, the analysis below accounts for all WCG participants for whom wage
records were available at the time of analysis and is not specific to participants from FY 2024.
SCHEV have thus analyzed earnings of the remaining 31,882 students with wage records
before and after enrolling in the program. Of these participants, 22,557 students earned a
credential.
Earnings Analysis
Before enrolling in WCG programs, students earned a median annual wage of $21,300.
Twelve months after leaving the program, students earned a median wage of $31,851. This
$10,551 change represents a 50% increase compared to the median pre-wage.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Students who went on to earn the credential saw a greater increase to their wages, $11,669
annually, even though the percentage increase is the same due to these individuals earning a
higher wage before entering the program. These wages are not adjusted for inflation.
Table 12: Wages Pre- and Post-Program of WCG Completers, by Credential Status, History of
the Program
# of Students w/
pre- and post- wages
successfully matched Median Pre-wage Median Post-wage Median Wage Change
Did Not Earn
Credential 9,325 $14,997 $22,191 $7,214
Earned Credential 22,557 $24,228 $35,897 $11,669
Total 31,882 $21,300 $31,851 $10,551
These results are strictly correlational, observing the wages of graduates after experiencing a
WCG program, and do not attribute causality. However, a recent study found that credential
earners increased quarterly earnings by approximately $1,000 and the probability of
employment 2.4 percentage points over non-earners.
Median Wages Increased in all Occupational Fields
To measure specific credentials’ impact on wages more effectively, Table 12 examines only
the students who earned their credential and for whom their pre- and post-program wages
could be matched. In all occupational fields, median wages increased after attaining the
credential. Students who earned credentials in Construction and Extraction earned the
highest median wage, at $52,442. However, these students also started with a higher pre-
program wage. Students who earned credentials in Education, Training and Library
occupations saw the largest median wage increases, over $24,000. These students represent a
relatively narrow slice of the wage analysis, however, with only 194 student records
matched.
16
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Table 13: Wages Pre- and Post-Program for Credentialed Students by Industry, History of the
Program
# of Students w/pre-
and post- wages Median Median Median
successfully matched Pre-wage Post-wage Wage Change % Change
Architecture & Engineering 26 $27,854 $35,085 $7,231 26%
Business & Financial Operations 497 $41,607 $48,259 $6,652 17%
Computer & Mathematical 728 $27,796 $40,789 $12,993 47%
Construction & Extraction 6050 $47,180 $54,618 $7,438 16%
Education, Training, & Library 194 $22,359 $46,655 $24,296 109%
Healthcare Practitioners & Technical 1,026 $15,935 $26,487 $10,552 66%
Healthcare Support 3,196 $12,399 $21,067 $8,668 69%
Installation, Maintenance, & Repair 2,527 $19,404 $36,351 $16,947 87%
Office & Administrative Support 202 $14,372 $22,610 $8,238 57%
Production & Manufacturing 2,815 $17,851 $32,375 $14,524 81%
Sales & Related Occupations 109 $28,312 $33,295 $4,983 18%
Transportation & Material Moving 5,173 $21,143 $34,147 $13,004 62%
Grand Total 22,557 $24,228 $35,897 $11,669 48%
Wages by Race and Ethnicity
Regardless of racial or ethnic groups, all credentialed WCG participants saw increases in
their median wages. The wage analysis by race and ethnicity is complicated by the high
numbers of unknown and unreported race or ethnicity, as well as by variation in population
between demographic groups (see the enrollments and success rates by race and ethnicity
above).
Table 14: Wages Pre- and Post-Program for Credentialed Students by Race and Ethnicity,
History of the Program
# of Students w/
pre- and post- wages Median Wage
successfully matched Median Pre-wage Median Post-wage Change
American Indian or Alaska Native (NH) 100 $19,479 $32,472 $14,993
Asian (NH) 620 $29,160 $43,636 $14,476
Black or African American (NH) 5,397 $18,257 $28,204 $9,947
Hispanic 1,053 $19,972 $31,397 $11,425
Multi-Race (NH) 417 $14,606 $27,010 $12,404
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 32 $15,388 $35,657 $20,269
Islander (NH)
Race Unknown/Unreported (NH) 3,026 $31,378 $40,970 $9,592
White (NH) 11,913 $26,447 $38,801 $12,354
Grand Total 22,557 $24,228 $35,897 $11,669
17
New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS AND NEXT STEPS
Program Cap
The 2022-24 biennial budget includes language restricting any single occupational field from
receiving more than 25% of WCG funds. However, to support statewide initiatives to
increase the supply of truck drivers amid heightened market demand, this restriction did not
apply to programs in Transportation and Material Moving for FY 2024. This past Fiscal year,
Transportation and Material Moving-related program enrollments accounted for 43% of
WCG reimbursements, with most reimbursements tied to Commercial Drivers’ Licenses
(CDL) training. Enrollment in CDL programs made up less than 25% of total student
enrollments for the year; however, these programs have a higher cost per participant due to
the cost of equipment required to train students, resulting in their outsized representation in
WCG expenses.
As noted above, truck driving positions have 4,866 annual openings, while only 2,998
individuals enrolled in truck driving programs through WCG, suggesting that more demand
for this training exists than the current WCG funding structure can supply.
To comply with the 25% cap, VCCS monitored projected encumbrances based on student
registrations throughout the fiscal year. In past years, the VCCS periodically has used
projected encumbrances to implement a temporary pause on student enrollments in truck-
driving programs, thus keeping incurred costs below the reimbursement cap.
Reimbursement Limit Raised to $4,000 Per Credential
From the beginning of the program through FY2023, the enabling legislation for WCG
capped reimbursement for any individual program participant at $3,000. Recognizing
inflationary pressures on salaries and the cost of equipment, Chapter 1 of the 2023 General
Assembly, Special Session I raised the limit on reimbursements to $4,000, effective July 1,
2023. Two of the 104 credentials offered in FY 24 through the WCG, Power Line Commercial
Driver’s License and Commercial Driver’s License Type A, have both the highest tuition cost
and high enrollment - these programs represent 26% of the total credentials earned in FY
2024. Across WCG, 2,989 credentials that triggered reimbursements between $3,000 and
$4,000 this past fiscal year. Policymakers can expect that a similar portion of training
completions and credentials earned in FY 2025 may trigger reimbursements over $3,000 and
up to $4,000.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
Monitoring Legislation in Congress
In 2023, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce reported the Bipartisan
Workforce Pell Act, which would expand Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in
programs similar to those offered through the Workforce Credential Grant. At $7,395, the
maximum Pell grant would more than cover the maximum total cost of WCG programs
($6,000).
Some proposed federal eligibility requirements appear to align with WCG requirements,
such as alignment between eligible programs and high-demand fields. Other requirements
would differ from WCG eligibility - for example, the proposed federal legislation would
require students to “receive academic credit” upon program completion. Currently, WCG-
participating institutions are only required to “adopt a policy for the award of academic
credit to any eligible student who has earned a noncredit workforce credential that is
applicable to the student's certificate or degree program requirements.” The Bipartisan
Workforce Pell Act also would require graduation rates and job placement rates of at least
70% and require median earnings to exceed those of high school graduates between 25 and
34 years of age. According to U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey’s 2023 one-
year estimates, the median earnings of high school graduates in Virginia, regardless of age, is
$41,061. As demonstrated in Table 13, this threshold exceeds many of the median earnings of
WCG credential learners.
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New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Annual Report FY 2024
CONCLUSION
Since the inception of the Workforce Credential Grant in 2016, the program has continued to
grow based on both student demand and labor market needs. The largest areas of enrollment
occur in occupational fields with annual job openings that exceed training completions. In
addition, median earnings continue to grow post-training completion.
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